First Memory
Originally posted August 19, 2005.
I was just curious as to how far back most of you can remember. It seems the older I get, the shorter my memory (and attention span) are...but I think that my first actual memory goes all the way back to 1975. I was just 2 years old at the time. We had just moved to Augusta, Georgia from Falls Church, Virginia. My Dad was in the Army , and attending the SATCOM school there. My Mom was busy caring for yours truly and trying to make our apartment "home". Our apartment had electric heating. The heaters were made of some sort of metal, and mounted to the wall. I seem to recall them being about as high as my chest...maybe a little shorter. The control panel was located on the top side of the thing. It had various switches to adjust the cooking temperature...and the switches were surrounded by a soft, felt-like film. I was ever fascinated with it. So...my Mom was busily hanging pictures while I amused myself. She had placed several nails on top of the heater, so that they would be close at hand when she needed one. I can remember picking up a nail and scratching the soft part around the switches...I liked the way it felt...then I poked at it a little, and it gave way pretty easily. The next thing I did will forever be etched in my mind as my First Big Mistake. I poked that nail right through the felt-like, filmy cover thing...and made contact with the wires underneath. There was a loud POP!...and there were sparks...and then smoke. The next thing I can recall was my mother dragging me down the hall by my arm. She practically threw me into the bathroom and ran cold water over my hand. (I think it was in an attempt to soothe the burning sensation that I was experiencing...) My knuckles were blackened a bit...but worse than that...my Mom was REALLY mad at me. Most of my early childhood memories are those of the most traumatic experiences. I think that is sad, because it makes it seem that I was just a hapless and clumsy kid who was always getting into trouble... I wonder what my parents can recall;)
Wow! That young, huh? My first shock (well, short) didn't happen til I was 17. That must have been insane for you back then! Funny thing is, as far back as I can remember is around 1975.. but I was five. I fell out of a tree and fucked up my knee. It's never been good since. ;)
Posted by: tesco | May 19, 2008 at 01:16 PM
I think the first thing I really remember is the day Dad got the blue toyota (the first time). We all went with Dad to pick up the car and then Mom drove us girls back home. Once home she shut my fingers in the door to the station wagon. I remember that it hurt.
Posted by: Angela | May 20, 2008 at 12:34 AM
OUCH! Wow that is a young memory. I recall things here and there but I don't think they are from that young I can't even recall the age that I was.
Posted by: Tina | May 21, 2008 at 05:10 AM
The first thing I recall was the night that my Grandpa died. I was 20 months old. The next thing I recall is a few years later, but it seems like all of my early memories are indeed traumatic events.
Posted by: Milenka | May 23, 2008 at 08:01 PM
Tesco~What can I say??? I'm an over-achiever;)
Ang~I can remember getting my thumb stuck in the door of Oliver Opel when I was five. It sicked! heh
Milenka~That is one early memory!!!
Posted by: justdawn | May 23, 2008 at 08:06 PM